Jazz Up July sparkles in park

Scott Gargan

Published 11:59 pm, Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Alex Roldan, left, Dave Henderson, center, and Mariela Storti watch as B.B. King comes on stage during Jazz Up July at Columbus Park in Stamford, Conn., on Wednesday, July 16, 2014.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Brothers Michael, left, George, center, and Robert Acocella compete for a footbal while playing catch with their parents during Jazz Up July at Columbus Park in Stamford, Conn., on Wednesday, July 16, 2014.
Photo: Jason Rearick

Barring the storefront sign missing from Tino's Cafe & Night Club, there was little evidence of the horror that ensued when a gunman opened fire on a crowd of people near the establishment, located just outside Columbus Park, early Sunday.

Lisa Reynolds, of Stamford, was "surprised" by the news of the shooting. But, she said, "That shouldn't deter people from coming down."

"I really don't think something like that would happen here," she added, sipping a bottle of Bud Light. "I've been coming to these concerts for years. I feel safe."

Added her friend, Stratford resident Martin Biddinger: "There's no reason why I should stop living because of an incident like that."

The crowd at Columbus Park seemed similarly quick to brush off the incident, preferring to embrace the warm weather and the chance to see an iconic bluesman in person.

Gabriel Longobarbo, who was with her 2-year-old son, Alex, said she didn't feel like she was "in any danger" being in Columbus Park.

"I think the city is doing a good job," she added. "I'm going to keep coming back for the events here."

She said she "felt bad" for Tino's, which, after the shooting, voluntarily closed down, pending an investigation.

"They may not have had any connection to what happened," Longobarbo added. "That's terrible for them."

Responding to the incident, the Stamford Police Department was conducting extra foot patrols both inside the concert grounds and throughout Downtown Stamford Wednesday, Stamford Police Capt. Thomas Wuennemann said. However, he added, the increased security was merely a precaution, and that concert-goers should feel secure at what has been "a historically safe event."

"We've never had a problem at Jazz Up July," he said. "This is about keeping up appearances more than anything else."

The shooting occurred early Sunday, when the gunman began arguing with another person about a woman, police said. He had been hit in the face, and he pulled out his gun. Five people were shot.

Miraculously, none of their injuries was considered life-threatening. Police said they believed all of the victims were innocent bystanders unrelated to the altercation.

Wuennemann noted that such an incident is extremely rare for Downtown Stamford.

"We're still one the safest cities in New England," he said.

But that fact was little comfort to Nancy Aekins, a longtime Stamford resident who said she believes violence from other areas of the city is beginning to spill into Downtown.

"That's now becoming the norm," she said. "There's no such thing as 'I can't believe this is happening in my town' anymore."

That all being said, Aekins wasn't going to let the violence spoil her fun.

"You don't forget, but you have to move on," she said. "I just hope and pray this is going to be a wonderful evening and a great night for a legend."